George Hill found out about his trade from a Larry Bird voicemail

Finding out you’ve been traded is kind of like getting broken up with. You’d rather find out face to face out of respect than via phone call or text message.

Apparently, George Hill learned that he had been traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Utah Jazz from a voicemail left on his phone from Larry Bird. Surely this stung Hill a little bit more than it might have for another player, as Hill is a native of Indianapolis.

After a workout, Hill first learned he was traded when he listened to a voicemail from Pacers President Larry Bird saying “we had to trade you to Utah.”

[…]

“It came as a surprise. Last time I checked, I was supposed to retire from Indiana. Very surprising, but I know this is a business and anything can happen. So, I’m not upset about it. I think I’m in a great situation here. I’m here, somewhere where I feel wanted right now.”

Perhaps it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Bird might go about his business like this. Because that’s how Bird is, he’s about business, and he’s not afraid to be cold or straightforward with somebody. There’s no time for feelings.

Hopefully Hill is able to enjoy Utah just as much, if not more than he did Indianapolis.